New parking bays for the NT

Work to begin on new parking bays in Northern Territory as part of multi-million dollar federal investment in rest areas

Work will soon begin on building new parking bays in the Northern Territory as part of a multi-million dollar federal investment in rest areas.

The Rudd Government has allocated $1 million from its $70 million Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program for two rest areas on the Barkly Highway and one on the Stuart Highway.

Design work on the three facilities has been completed, with the Henderson Government injecting $160,000 into building the parking bays.

The two parking bays for the Barkly Highway will be built between Three Ways and Tablelands and between Soudan Station and Avon Downs.

The final parking bay will be built between Katherine and Pine Creek, northbound on the Stuart Highway.

A spokesman for Northern Territory Minister for Infrastructure Delia Lawrie says the bays will be sealed and have rubbish with animal protection grills.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese says the investment will help improve roadside facilities for heavy vehicle drivers.

"Upon taking office, the Rudd Labor Government readily acknowledged the lack of safe, modern rest stops along the nation’s highways," Albanese says.

"Since then we have been working with the trucking industry, as well as state and territory governments, to begin fixing this unacceptable situation.

The Government has already rolled out the first $30 million from the Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program, including $9 million for five new and eight upgraded rest areas in South Australia.

Albanese says the remaining $40 million will soon be made available to the states and territories to apply for.

The three sites in the Northern Territory where chosen after consultation with the region’s peak lobby group, the Australian Trucking Association NT.

An information service on the Northern Territory's website says parking bays are designed to help truck drivers manage fatigue.

"Truck parking bays are typically established to facilitate a stop for every hour of travel and as such are primarily spaced at approximately 80 km intervals, taking into account towns and commercial facilities," the site says.